Roof vent



S. R. RUBIN ROOF VENT Aug. 7, 1951 Filed Jan. 24, 1949 INVENITOR:

N u ULA@ vh HCT E EGT# b BGA M 9.a N am. f a nNnH ,M on E L uw. o Hm ou vl O B W Patented Aug. 7, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim. 1

The invention relates to roof vents and more particularly to a new and improved ue construction.

Innumerable devices have .heretofore been employed in an attempt to obtain a vent simulating as near as possible the desired effect of an open :flue in normal conditions of still air with a temperature differential between outlet and inlet. At the same time it is necessary to avoid the eiiects of the wind which in striking the vent at various angles, whether steadily or in gusts, and whether on a flat roof or a pitched roof, at, above, or below the peak of the roof, tends to induce down-drafts or even to draw excessively.

Some Vents have been provided with rotating or moving elements such as vanes, or spiral escape ports. These have for the most part proven unsatisfactory due as much to their sticking and jamming as to their inertia which resists to a critical extent any blow which would serve to change or induce their desired movement. For these reasons, among othersgstationary vents are to be preferred, provided they will succeed in obtaining substantially open-flue performance without undesirable back-.drafts incident to the simple flue.

In the achievement of the desired result, whether due in part to building restrictions or for the purpose of procuring a sturdy and attractive design, certain preconditions are essential. The vent. as stated, will be subject to the vagaries of the atmosphere, including not only wind but alsoV rain, and must manifestly protect against the latter by shedding it adequately and against the former by preventing said down-drafts or any stagnation which would hamper its effective operation.

In the light of these and other considerations known to those skilled in the art of vent design and construction, it is an object of this invention to provide a sturdy and attractive roof vent of new and improved structural qualities and appearance,

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved roof vent which is simple in construction, effective in use, and economical in production.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved roof vent which is susceptible if equally effective use upon a flat or a slanting roof, or a roof of any other shape, and which may be used upon a short or long stack either o above or below the peak of the roof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved roof vent construction whereby wind and side currents ordinarilyresulting in down-drafts or damps, serve only to create and maintain substantially uniform effectiveness oi the vent.

Another further object of the invention is` to provide a new and improved roof vent having a cooperative horizontal and vertical bailiing, preferably forming a plurality of discreet outlets comprising horizontal and vertical components.

Another object of the invention is the provision of new and improved vertical and horizontal iiue passages.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved shield or auxiliary cowling optionally associated with vents of conventional construction or intended for use in the embodiment hereinafter more particularly illustrated and described.

Other more specific objects of the invention include the provision of a new and improved raindeiiector construction, the provision of a new and improved wind-control arrangement, and the provision of a new and improved roof vent readily adaptable to provide any desired amount of outlet area without destroying the optimum H draft conditions at the top of the iiue or stack.

It is moreover an object of this invention to provide improvements over prior art devices generally intended to accomplish a similar purpose.

Other objects and purposes of this invention will become more apparent from the following description and claims considered in the light oi' the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a roof vent illustrative of this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken as on a line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but illustrating by means of arrows the probable main flow of air through the vent due to a diierent angle of incidence of the wind.

Figure 5 is a fragmental vertical sectional view of a modied form of this invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown by way of illustration but not of limitation, a roof vent generally designated by the numeral 20] comprising a stack collar 2l which may be rit over a ue `22 of conventional construction and preferably provided with a rolled shoulder 23 upon which the lower edge of the collar 2i may come to rest when the parts are telescoped.

A frame member, also referred to a "shield,

auxiliary cow or cover, 25 may have secured thereto a louver 26, a cowl or cap 21 and any number of intermediate louvers 28.

The cap 21 may be of any conventional construction but as shown is preferably round and formed with a substantially iiat upper surface 30, tapering and rounded downwardly at its mar*- ginal edge 3| to provide a suitable water shed extending over and projecting substantially beyond the interior 32 of the iiue.

The intermediate louver 28 may be co-extensive at its outer margin 33 with the cap 21 but by Virtue of its annular shape derlnesan extended central opening 35 preferably approximating the internal diameter of the flue 22. The intermediate louver is preferably also rounded and tapered at its edge 33 in a similar manner to the cap 21 and is moreover appropriately formed with a downturned inner lip 36.

The lowermost louver 26 may be ,tapered to correspond withV the edge A3l of the cap 21 and the edge 33 of the intermediate louver, and may be, secured as by a shoulder 38 lto the u pper Vedge 39 of the stack collar. This securement may be accomplished as by spot-welding, riveting, or the like so that the lowermost louver V25 presents essentially the appearance of a flared skirt Yformed around the upper edge of the stack collar. Y

' The frame 25 preferably is of a generally clover-leafed shape, having any number. of leaves, as four, defining vertical bulges as .4i separated by vertical flutes or channels `as.42 from other similarly formedpassageways as.45, 46, and 41. Y

' At their bottoms 49 the flutes 42 may be suitably shaped to conform for a short distance to the curvature of the cap 21 and the llouvers 28 and 26. Such curvature .is not essential, however, and said bottom portions49 may be substantially flat, angular or curved. In any event, any appropriate securing means may be provided between the frame and the cap and the louvers such asV ears 50 formed integral with or separate from the cap and louvers by means of which l the frame may be spot-welded or otherwise secured around the outside edges of the cap and/ or louvers.V Most desirably in such assembled posif tion the bottoms 49 of the channels forming the fluting should be flush with or proximate to the outside edges, as 3|, 33, etc. of the cap and louvers to form more or less distinct vertical bulges, as

4I, etc.

If desired, any number of circumferential beads 52 may be formed in the frame to add to its attractiveness as well as rigidity and strength.

By the above construction, as heretofore stated, any desired number of passageways or flue extensions may be provided, the four-leaf clover design resulting, for example, in the formation of four vertical ducts as 54,55, 56,.and 51 spaced from one another by theflutings 42. These may be hemi-cylindrical substantially as shown or of any other shape, and when viewed Yaxially as inrFigure 2 appear toy bebounded by the outer edge 3l of the cap 21 which should but need not coincide with the corresponding outer edges of the cap and the louvers 26 and 28.

The vertical ducts 54, 55, 56, and 51 are continuous with the interior 32 of the flue and flue collar 2| as through the lateral openings or ducts, viz. 60, formed between adjacent flutes 42 and also between the louvers and cap. Thus air will pass through the opening 35 in the intermediate louver. It will also pass through the corresponding lateral openings or ducts SI and Ell-formed.

between the cap 21 and intermediate louver 2S, and between such intermediate'louver 2li and the bottom louver 2G, respectively, at positions corresponding to the vertical ducts 54, 55, 55, and 51. After entering these vertical ducts the escaping air may leave the vent either past the upper or the lower edge 53 or 54 of the frame.

Normally, in still air, the escaping heated air or products of combustion will be carried upwardly after passing outwardly through the lateral openings Eil and 'l and will escape upwardly past the upper edge 53 of the frame. Meanwhile, fresh currents of air will assist the draft in the flue by circulating freely upwardly through the vertical ducts 54, 55, 56, and 51, being ordinarily preliminarily heated to some extent by contiguity or mingling with the relatively heated air immediately surrounding the flue 22. Tests (see infra) `have shown that under such ideal conditions, the ue which is the subject matter of this invention, performs as eiiiciently as an open and unobstructed Vertical flue. There is no back pressure, damping or interference with the free upward ilow and lateral and upward escape of the gases.

Assuming an instance, as illustrated in Figure 3, in which a prevailing wind approaches the vent structure normal to its vertical axis, the escaping gases may rise upwardly and escape laterally from the iiue as through the lateral openings S0 and 6l, being shielded in the direction of the winds approach (from the left, as shown in Figure 3) by the vertical duct 51. Due to the flow of wind past the top edge 63 and bottom edge 64 of said passageway, the gases will tend to be drawn upwardly over the top of the vent and also downwardly due to a reduction in pressure caused by the passage of the wind-past the lower edge 64.

If the prevailing wind should suddenly shift and blow, for example, downwardly in said duct 54, it might tend to enter the ducts 50 and 6l, but if so would be rapidly conducted through the interior of the vent, towards the right, to accompany the escaping gases at the right-hand side of said Figure 3, as before (e. g., vertical duct 55) thus serving to preserve rather than impair the effective optimum draft therein.

Further, and assuming a condition in which the wind approaches the vent from a direction below and to the right thereof as shown in Figure 4, the escaping gases will similarly-be assisted by the passage of a portion of the atmosphere upwardly as through vertical ductsv 55 and 51, improving the draft in the vertical passage 51 and assisting such products of combustion as escape into the vertical passage 55 upwardly but preponderantly across the top ofthe stack collar 2| and/or through the left-hand side of the lateral opening 6U, and thence through the opening 35 in the annular louver 28.and through the lateral opening 6I immediately beneath the cap 21. -Y f In each of the situations above, which serve merely to illustrate the presumed mode of operation, without intending thereby to fully comprehend morethan a relatively small part of the supposed flow, it may be seen that the contours and general formation ofthe instant structure is calculated to direct any intrudingair current efliciently and effectively through the central chamber (formed between the lateral openings E0 and 6I and within the annular rim 35) in a manner to stabilize the desiredV drawing qualities Of. the .improved Vent. Such. draw is substan- 5 tially uniform in each duct around the structure by virtue of the discreet vertical duct system; or in the event that the major updraft or downdraft is shifted to one or more of the vertiured under still air conditions. The ue capacity, in the second to last column above, was calculated from the following formula:

cal ducts-usually upon an opposite side from 5 2:166001//LX5 the Wind front-the total eiect results in an ap- T proximation to ideal conditions due to some ex- Nomenclature for flue capacity formula: tent to a decreased draft, whether upwardly or Q=flue capacity in cubic feet per hour, cordownwardly, in the opposite vertical duct. rected to 60F.

The uniform performance Characteristics Ol l h=velocity pressure in inches 0f methyl the instant vent regardless of atmospheric conalcohol, ditions will become apparent from the following s :specific gravity of methyl alcohol. test results as made on a vent for a 4" pipe: T=flue gas temperature, F. plus 400. Open ilue in still air, rlat roof No. l I It may be noted that the upper margin E3 of Instant cap in still air, lat roof No. 2 the frame can be carried to any desired height Instant cap, 20mmi1e wind at right angle, above the top of the cover 21 and the lower edge flat roof N0. 3 54 may likewise be carried to any distance be- Instant cap, 20-mile wind from 221/2 delow the upper edge 39 of the stack collar so that grees above right angle, flat roof No. 4 almost any desired draft or shielding protection Instant cap, Ztl-mile wind from 22% demay be obtained. A proportioning of` the parts grees below right angle, flat roof No. 5 substantially as illustrated in the drawing is, Instant cap in still air, 45, pitch roof No. 6 however, indicated for most uses. Instant cap, -n1ile wind at right angle, Similarly, it will be apparent from Figure 5, degrees, pitch roof N0. 7 for example, that any number of louvers may Instant cap, :l0-mile wind at 22%; degrees o be provided and that they may be spaced any above right angle, 45, pitch roof No. 8 desired distance from one another. Thus, only Instant cap, 2li-mile wind at 221/2 degrees a single cap 2l, as illustrated, and a bottom below right angle, 415, pitch roof No. 9 louver 26 are all the baffles that need be provided Open flue in still air,` 45, pitch roof No. 10 and the corresponding vertical dimension of the Number as referred to above Fluee'llflpmueemp neral'llngeer Goiglo Omg-gire lgicprrlg Draft Pitot l at-room minute by ggvglilg Hood Tube Alcohol Temp. formula Test #l l F. F. Per cent 300 212 0. 016 0. S15 1, 607 1 100. 00 30o 212 0. 016 0. 315 1, 06,7 1 100. 00 300 200 0. 010 0. 815 1, ssl 1 110. 02 300 220 0. 017 0. 815 1, 70s 1 102. 411 300 212 0. 01s 0. 815 1, 7119 l 10s. 12 300 24s 0. 014 0. 315 1, 520 2 100. 13 300 247 0. 014 0. S15 1, 521 2 100. 20 300 230 0. 017 0. 815 1, est 2 1,11. 79 300 230 0. 016 0. 815 1, 64e 2 10s. 4s 300 25o 0.014 0.815 1,518 2100. 00

1 Open ue using No. l as 100% eicient. 2 Open flue using No. l0 as 100%.

The above test results fully comply with the frame from edge 63 to edge 64 may be reduced rules and regulations applicable to gas appliaccordingly. ance vents as adopted, for example, by the Board Moreover, any number of vertical utes 42 of Building and Safety Commisioners, city of may be used, varying from two to ten or twenty Los Angeles, State of California, which may be 50 or more, depending for the most part upon the taken as characteristic of similar building and diameter of the ue 22 and the incidence of safety requirements in the United States. the wind. Likewise, the cross-sectional shape of Vents constructed in accordance with the inthe vertical ducts as well as the louvers may be etant disclosure will not, in ordinary use, be varied from curved or round walls to walls proccrne so bent, warped, broken, or detective as to Viding a duct of rectilinear or partially straightprevent their continued optimum performance. Vlined and partially curved-lined contour. The construction ofthe cap as a whole is such The material from which the improved form that moisture collecting within the same will of Vent herein disclosed may be constructed is drain outside the ue. Uniform draft gives uninot critical but should obviously be of a reform ue temperatures and decreases vapor proof material such as sheet metal. The mode condensation therein. of assembly of the parts is also not critical in- The iiue capacity with the instant construcasmuch as the various securing means may be tion is equal to or greater than 90 percent of the formed integral with the frame louver or other capacity of the open line operating in still air corresponding parts or separately therefrom, and without a cowl regardless of its position when the parts may be either welded or riveted toturned to obtain its least favorable position, gether as heretofore stated in any conventional During the above tests the vent was so mainmanner. It is not without the purview of this tained in its least favorable position as deterfinvention to cast the vent as a unit or in secmined by rotating the same. The instant device tions. As a matter of fact, the clover-leaf design has passed all prescribed tests whether in an unor its equivalent is intended to refer particularly obstructed air ilow, in a corner of a horizontal roof surrounding by a parapet wall, or on an unobstructed sloping roof. During said tests the velocity pressure, barometric pressure, flue temperature and room temperature were measto the vertical duct arrangement. Especially if the unit be cast, as of tile or cement, the exterior appearance of the frame may be square, oval, round, or of any other shape but formed in any event with spaced vertical ducts communicating with the\ini .eriorV of the vent substantially as noted for the sheet metal embodiment herein illustrated. If the vent is other than round in plan sectional view, such shape, e. g., oval, may be carried through in the pipe, the collar, the louvers, and the cap.

This invention features a sturdy roof vent of improved operating characteristics, of distinctive shape and appearance, and which withal, may be economically produced on a mass production basis or individually. It is additionally intended to provide a foil having equally effective operational qualities whether disposed upon a flat or slanting roof, and which is impervious to any and all atmospheric vagaries and by the use of which it may be possible to eliminate downdraft diverters and similar auxiliary devices heretofore employed for like safety purposes in conjunction with previously known vents. It is another feature of convenience in this invention that the number of vertical flutes can be made to correspond to the vent size. Thus, a 4 vent may be formed with four vertical ducts 54, 55, 56, and 5l, a 6 vent may be formed with six vertical flutes and corresponding ducts, etc. Identification for installation is thus obvious.

As can be seen by reference to the drawings the inside diameter of the louvers is substantially equal to the inside diameter of the stack member. YThe vertical passageways 54 through 51 are formed substantially with parallel opposed sides as seen most clearly in Fig. 2 and are of a circumferential width substantially equal to the diameter of the stack and of a radial width equal to approximately one-half of the Icircumferential width thereof. The upper projection of the collar beyond the cap approximately equals the maximum distance between the periphery of the cap and the corresponding outer edge of the said vertical passages 54 through 51. The distance between the vcap and the louver is approximately the same as the difference between the inner and outer radii of the louver. The distance between the louver and the top of the stack member is also approximately the same as the difference between the inner and outer radii of said louver.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred method and embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claim so as to embrace any and all equivalent structures and methods.

The invention having been herein described, what I claim as new and desire t0 secure by Letters Patent is:

A roof vent comprising, an upright cylindrical stack'member, an annular generally horizontal louver arranged coaxial with and spaced above said stack member, the inside diameter of said louver being substantially equal to the inside diameter of said stack member, a generally flat circular cap member spaced above said louver and having a diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of said louver, said cap and louver having integral ears on the outer peripheries thereof, and a collar surrounding said louver and cap member and the upper end of said stack member, said collar comprising a bulging corrugated vertical wall having spaced Vportions secured by said ears directly to said louver and cap to support said cap and louver, said wall extending relatively abruptly outwardly from opposite sides of -said spaced portions and defining inwardly concave vertical passages outwardly of said louver and cap, `the vertical passages being defined by wall portions extending in substantially parallel relationship with connecting portions of a circumferential width substantially equal to the diameter of the stack to define said vertical passages, said passages having a circumferential width 'substantially equal to the diameter of the stack anda radial width of approximately one-half of the circumferential width of the vertical passage, means fixed to said spaced portions adjacent the top of said stack member and fixed thereat to said stack member to support said collar, said collar extending upwardly above said cap a substantial distance, a downwardly directed fairing flange at inner edge of louver, the upward projection of the collar being of same distance as the maximum distance between the periphery of the cap and the outer edge of said vertical passage, the distance between the cap and the louver of the distance as the difference between the inner and outer radii of the louver, and the distance between louver and top of stack member of the same distance as the diiference between the inner and outer radii of the louver.

SOL RONALD RUBIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 201,241 Godfrey Mar. 12, 1878 483,384 Keane Sept. 27, 1892 1,074,143 Vaughn et al Sept. 30, 1913 1,576,879 Vallas Mar. 16, 1926 1,589,581 Young et al June 22, 1926 1,730,193 Davie et al. Oct. 1, 1929 1,742,541 Hooper Jan. 7, 1930 2,363,733 Karol Nov. 28, 1944 2,439,353 Wiseman Apr. 6, 1948 

